There’s a lot of debate about how to prounounce the name of the A435 that runs through Kings Heath. Us local Brummies call it All-ses-ter Road. But if you pop down to Redditch near the Warwickshire town of Alcester - they say All-ster Road. They don’t pronounce the ‘ce’ in the middle - confusingly - so it sounds like Ulster, but with an ‘A’ at the beginning. Birmingham historian Prof Carl Chinn has recently spoken of this conundrum and confirmed that, for Brummies, it’s All-ses-ter Road!placeholder image
There’s a lot of debate about how to prounounce the name of the A435 that runs through Kings Heath. Us local Brummies call it All-ses-ter Road. But if you pop down to Redditch near the Warwickshire town of Alcester - they say All-ster Road. They don’t pronounce the ‘ce’ in the middle - confusingly - so it sounds like Ulster, but with an ‘A’ at the beginning. Birmingham historian Prof Carl Chinn has recently spoken of this conundrum and confirmed that, for Brummies, it’s All-ses-ter Road! | Google Maps

The 17 most mispronounced place names in and around Birmingham - including Nechells & Weoley Castle

Fionnuala Bourke
By Fionnuala Bourke

Editor

Published 26th Apr 2023, 11:11 GMT
Updated 17th Sep 2023, 12:14 GMT

There are plenty of places across the city and beyond which may have you stumped

You’ve got to love our Brummie accent. The gentle rise and fall in our intonation as we speak each sentence, with our last word slowly, but surely facing away.

There have been times when Brumagem tongue has been criticised for being monotone. We don’t often win the most popular accent awards - but it is what it is.

And with the popularity of the likes of TV stars Alison Hammond and Joe Lycett - not to mention Tommy Shelby from the Peaky Blinders - a new dawn could be on the horizon for the appreciation of Brummie speak any day.

In the meantime there are some of our place names that people just don’t know how to pronounce.

In fact some people have problems with pronouncing Birmingham, itself. We don’t say - Burning ham. It’s not Bermin-um either. Bascially you just say Birming-um - the ‘h’ is silent, not the like American city in Alabama. It’s easy when you know how.

Here are 17 other place names in and around the city which are often misprounouced:

If you’re not familiar with this Black Country town, you could be forgiven for some confusion on how to tackle its pronunciation. The best advice we can give is to NOT approach it as in rowing a boat. The ‘Row’ bit is said as in argument. And the rest, we hope is straightforward.

9. Rowley Regis

If you’re not familiar with this Black Country town, you could be forgiven for some confusion on how to tackle its pronunciation. The best advice we can give is to NOT approach it as in rowing a boat. The ‘Row’ bit is said as in argument. And the rest, we hope is straightforward. | Google Maps

Another Black Country neighbourhood, where actress Julie Walters grew up no less, has also caused confusion. It’s the ‘w’ in the middle which has often prompted a dilemma for those seeing it for the first time. Don’t worry - just ignore it and say: Smeth-ick.

10. Smethwick

Another Black Country neighbourhood, where actress Julie Walters grew up no less, has also caused confusion. It’s the ‘w’ in the middle which has often prompted a dilemma for those seeing it for the first time. Don’t worry - just ignore it and say: Smeth-ick. | Google Maps

This Sutton Coldfield village as frequently caught people out with the letter ‘l’ featured twice in its name. But you don’t need to feel like a wally if you’re not sure how to say it any more. It sounds a bit like warmly, so say Wall-mly.

11. Walmley

This Sutton Coldfield village as frequently caught people out with the letter ‘l’ featured twice in its name. But you don’t need to feel like a wally if you’re not sure how to say it any more. It sounds a bit like warmly, so say Wall-mly. | Google Maps

It’s a well known Black Country town, but not everyone knows how to pronounce it if they don’t know it already. Our top tip is to think of the Polish capital Warsall and say Wor-sall (we don’t say the first ‘l’)

12. Walsall

It’s a well known Black Country town, but not everyone knows how to pronounce it if they don’t know it already. Our top tip is to think of the Polish capital Warsall and say Wor-sall (we don’t say the first ‘l’) | Google Maps

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